Gabriel Over the White House

Do you solemnly swear that you will faithfully execute

the office of president of the United States...

and will to the best of your ability...

preserve, defend and protect the constitution of the United States?

I do.

Congratulations Mr President.

Good fight, Mr President... The inauguration went off with a bang.

Yes, but it was pretty wet.

That's more than I can say for this punch!

Don't you worry about Paris.

I'm not... It's Oklahoma I'm worried about!

- Goodnight, Ted. - Goodnight, Senator.

Glad to have you in the cabinet.

Well, it's better than being a lame duck.

Goodnight, Mr Vice-President. Hope you sleep well.

When did a vice-president ever do anything else?

Judd... one of your constituents outside is very anxious to see you.

I don't want to see anybody... My hand is worn out now.

Well you better see this fellow...

He's insistent and he's armed.

- Hello Uncle Judd! - Hello Jim!

He insisted on coming to your reception, Mr President.

That's alright, Miss May.

Beekman...

He's the only person that see the president at any time without an appointment.

Jim, I want you to meet the gentleman

who made your uncle the president of the United states.

I've got a speech.

Alright, let's hear the speech.

I love my Uncle Jud because he's going to cure the depression...

and make all the people rich again.

I see your nephew is inclined to the military.

What's that?

Are you going to be a soldier, Jim?

No, I'm going to be a gangster.

I guess it's more profitable, at that.

Are you a policeman.

You have a very ignorant nephew, Mr President...

He should know I'm not a policeman, by looking at my feet.

You'd better run along home now, Jim.

Gangsters need some rest, you know.

Goodnight, Mr president.

I hope you'll have a different opinion of me, than your nephew.

Did I keep my promise, Judd?

Well, I'm in The White House.

And considerably worried.

- Why? - When I think of all the promises...

I made the people, to get elected.

You had to make some promises.

By the time they realise you're not going to keep them,

your term will be over.

Thanks for those unexpected votes from Alabama.

Wait till you get the bill for them!

Good luck, Chief!

Senator Langham...

If you run the Senate, like I'm going to run The White House...

we won't need any luck.

Jasper...

I can't tell you how grateful I am.

Don't mention it.

You'll make the best president the party ever had.

Well, Beekman...

Here we are in The White House.

Pretty big place for a bachelor president.

I think I'll look the place over.

I feel a good deal like a puppy... I have to turn around 3 or 4 times...

before I lie down.

I hope I never have to shake hands again, the rest of my life.

Is there anything else I've got to do?

There are a lot of cablegrams up in your study.

I suppose I should read those. Anything else?

Well I'd like you to know how much I appreciate this opportunity of serving my country.

Serving your country, yes...

Beekman...

Do you realise you're the youngest secretary a president ever had?

I appreciate the honour, Sir.

We need young blood around here.

Beekman's rather a long name...

- Do you mind if I call you Beek? - Not at all, Sir.

I'll call you "Beek", and you call me "Major", OK?

Oh, Mr Beekman!

Mr Beekman is the president's secretary.

Miss Malloy... is that correct?

Miss Pendola Malloy.

Miss Malloy, the president has had a rather trying day.

I know... Inaugurations are very trying.

May I ask what it is you wish to see the president about?

About Miss Pendola Malloy.

Of course.

If you have a seat, I'll notify the president you're here.

You're so kind.

Here are some more of them telegrams, Major.

Hello, Sebastian... How do you like your new home?

It sure am a big place Sir...

Red rooms, blue rooms, green rooms...

At times like these, the president needs lots of rooms.

Sebastian, I never knew there were so many kings in the world.

And neither did I, Sir.

His Majesty desires to convey to you and all the American people...

his felicitations on the birth of a new political era.

- Mr President... - Hello, Beek.

Say, where is Siam?

Siam?

Just north of the Malay Peninsula, just south of China.

- That's fine. - Mr President, there's a...

Just a minute...

If I'm going to call you "Beek", you've got to refer to me as "Major".

Very well, Major.

When I told you today there was only one person that could see the president at any time...

I was wrong.

There are two.

Will you come with me, please.

You're my first official duty.

How flattering.

Miss Malloy, Major.

- Nice seeing you here, Mr President. - Nice being here, Miss Malloy.

You two have gotten acquainted by this time, I suppose.

- Yes, indeed. - Beek... this is Miss Malloy.

How do you do, Miss Malloy.

Miss Malloy's going to be your assistant. You don't mind, do you?

- Not at all. - He's very rigid, but I like him.

Anything else, Major?

You may call me Pendy, if I can call you Beek.

Of course.

Good night, Beek.

Good night, Pendy.

Good night.

In this terrible hour of crisis...

America must look to its president with unshakeable confidence.

My attitude is one of complete optimism.

With the help of such patriotic and idealistic men as yourselves...

I plan to carry this nation from the depths of despondency..

To the unsullied and sunny heights of prosperity.

I count on you journalists for inspiration and support.

In future, all questions will have to be submitted in writing...

24 hours before these meetings.

Today, however, the president has very generously consented...

to answer a few questions directly.

Mr Paterson...

Does the president intend to grant John Bronson an interview?

The president didn't catch the name...

John Bronson, the leader of all the unemployed.

The president considers John Bronson a dangerous anarchist.

If he comes near The White House, he'll be arrested.

The president hasn't forgotten that Bronson heads a million men...

who are armed and unemployed.

On the last count, there were 270 camps of these men...

in the public parks of our largest cities.

The president considers the whole question of unemployment a local problem.

Is the administration going to take any action...

on the racketeering that is rampant in the country?

Are notorious gangsters like Mick Diamond going to get away with it?

My administration also regards Mick Diamond and all racketeers as local problems.

We choose to believe that bootlegging and all forms of racketeering will disappear...

as soon as the public become educated to respect the 18th Amendment.

- Mr Thieson... - Mr President...

My paper's indictment against the government is a staggering one.

Starvation and want is everywhere.

From coast to coast and from Canada to Mexico.

Millions of dollars are poured into new battleships.

Farmers burn corn and wheat...

Food is thrown away into the sea...

while men and women are begging for bread.

Men are freezing without coats, while cotton rots in the fields.

Thousands of homeless... Millions of vacant homes.

Over 5,000 gangland murders last year.

Yet only 5 gangsters imprisoned...

Not for killing, but for income tax violations.

What does the new administration say to this.

What answer, what definite plan does the government have to this indictment?

This tale of misery and horror, of lost hope, of broken faith...

of the collapse of the American democracy.

Young man, I shall answer you directly.

Through you, I shall speak to all of my country.

America will weather this depression, as she has weathered other depressions.

Through the spirit of Valley Forge...

the spirit of Gettysburg and the spirit of the Argon.

The American people have risen before, and they will rise again.

Gentlemen, remember...

Our party promises a return to prosperity.

- May the president be quoted? - The president may not be quoted.

If you don't stop asking questions, we won't have any place to sleep for the next 4 years.

Well boys, can I be of any further service to you?

How about a glass of beer?

- Remember this is the White house. - I thought it was the Senate.

I enjoyed the president's speech.

It was straightforward and to the point.

Sure!

Prosperity is just around the corner.

A miracle will rise again.

When she rises, wake me up and we'll all rise together.

Mind if I use your desk for a game of solitaire?

Go ahead.

Get a load of Thieson...

Hey Thieson, take the world off your shoulders, you're beginning to look like Atlas.

Oh, yes Senator, that's all taken care of.

Mr Beekman...

The pesident would like to see you.

Well?

Miss Malloy is the president's confidential secretary.